Gearbox noise??

[desertfox]

Hi
I've bougth a '94 BMW R 1100 GS in october 2002. It had a small crash (vendor words, hehe!), but in overall it looked like a bargain. (ohlins rear shock, set of panniers, ABS, engine crash-bars, extra ligths, anti-slippery seats, etc., etc. at a good price).
Several little problems after (all covered by warranty), i'm pretty happy with it.
Only one stupid noise is intriguing me! It cames from the gearbox (i guess). The vendor says it's normal for a '94 GS, and i had it opened by a BMW mechanic that said the same....but i never read nothing about noises in '94 GS's!!
It sounds only when the bike is at normal functioning temperature (5 stripes) and at idle speed. As soon as i acelerate it disapears, or if i press clutch as well.
It sounds like a little hammer...inside the gearbox!

is it as NORMAL as those 2 guys say?

cheers
GPais
DesertFox

 

[leigh]

Zo englander zu have now discovered vy ze gearboxs go clunk wen selecting ze gears. Zer is ein man in zere mit ein hammer to bash zere gears into mesh

 

[leigh]

If you pull the clutch and it goes away - don't worry - normal boxer quirk. Carefull injection sync can help but not eradicate it.
Noticed on recent training course at Rockingham race circuit that new 1200 does it after being thrashed round the track.
since 94' their have been loads of gearbox mods to try & quieten noise & gear selection down. Hope this is of some help

 

[richie]

Desert fox I'm with leigh and I also run a 1994 GS if the noise disapears when the clutch is pulled in FORGET ABOUT IT mine has been doing that for the last 70000 KMS

 

[finglonga]

Lots of noises vanish(can't spell disappear) if you put earplugs in.

 

[(RIP) maverick]

I pulled my clutch in and the clutch plate disappeared

If you throttle down and the gearbox makes a loud winding noise then you need to start worry, else they are pretty noise changing gears and riding about.

Winding noises from either the gearbox or bevel drive usually points to worn bearings of which I have had the pleasure to expierence of both on my 94' bargain basement price 1100GS. Besides for all the shit that breaks actually a really nice bike

 

[desertfox]

Great!

This means i have to buy better earplugs!

Thanks...

P.S.: mEINE zenglander is bad?? you should see withe soome pints downe tha belly hip!

cheers

 

[richie]

There are a lot of threads coming through now on other Forums regarding problems, (many are complete failure) - of early 1100 gearboxes - in the US - particularly in the 70K to 100K Kms range.

Is "lubing the splines" an issue - Steptoe will know?

Para

Are you trying to scare me Para, as you know I am now past the 70K mark....

 

[richie]

So this means from now on I'll have to ride with my fingers crossed... I wonder what Vern thinks?

 

[Flaps]

I have to disagree with the advice given here. My bike use to make a noise that dissappeared when the clutch was pulled in. This went on for aboiut 10,000 miles then the gearbox went (ley shaft bearing dissintergrated) Result my pocket £1000 lighter and the noise has gone. The only advice I can give is make sure that the gearbox oil is replaced regularly.

 

[(RIP) maverick]

Buy an Airhead, boys before they become like "gold dust"
Para

I agree Bill, the airheads gearboxes is much easier to take out and fix on 50000 miles

 

[desertfox]

really, Flaps?
Mine is doing that bloody noise for 26.000 km!
Vendor said old owner put new gearbox at 60.000 (when i bougth it).

After service, the noise is not as louder....but it takes 1 to 2 weeks to reach its normal sound!

i'm heading to Eslovenia next June...i don't want to stop in the middle!

 

[Rob Farmer]

Desert Fox,

The teeth rattle on the early gearboxes (94-95) when the bike is ticking over, though mine got worse until I had to have the bearing conversion done at 30K.

http://www.micapeak.com/bmw-gs/trans.html is a good link for gearbox info.